[Life] After 20 Years in Taiwan, a Foreign Priest from Beigang Catholic Church Finally Obtains ID Card, Becoming a True Taiwanese

Father Xu Jingshan, an American citizen born in China and serving at the Beigang Catholic Church in Yunlin, who has been preaching in Taiwan for 20 years, encountered a roadblock last year when attempting to obtain an ID card through the "Mackay Plan" due to his birthplace being China. With the assistance of legislator Liu Jian-guo of the Democratic Progressive Party, he has recently officially become a Taiwanese. Xu Jingshan, 67, told reporters today (21st) that he went to the United States from China 33 years ago and obtained U.S. citizenship. Twenty years ago, the church sent him to serve in Taiwan. For many years in Taiwan, he found it inconvenient to apply for a mobile phone and other services without a Taiwanese ID card, and he was also ineligible for the senior citizen card. Last year, he learned about the "Mackay Plan" online and hoped to naturalize as a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) through this program. Xu Jingshan said that during the application process, the Immigration Agency requested proof of household registration cancellation because he was born in China. He asked his relatives in China to obtain a certificate from the police station in his birthplace, but the Immigration Agency required verification of the documents by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), leading to continuous setbacks. After appealing to Yunlin County Councilor Cai Yue-ru of the DPP and with further assistance from Liu Jian-guo, he finally obtained his Taiwanese ID card and became a "true Taiwanese," which made him very happy. Xu Jingshan stated that the reason for the roadblock in his ID card application was the suspension of notarization services related to Taiwan affairs in China. However, the SEF only accepts notarized documents sent by Chinese notary offices and does not recognize documents from local Chinese police stations. After local and central representatives assisted in sending a petition to the Executive Yuan and the Presidential Office, it received attention. China resumed notarization services at the end of July, and he finally obtained his ID card recently. Cai Yue-ru said that Xu Jingshan had served in Douliu, Citong, Xiluo, and Lunbei, dedicating himself to grassroots education. He also established a day-care center for the elderly at the Lunbei Catholic Church. Six years ago, he was transferred to the Beigang Catholic Church, where he has made significant contributions to rural areas and disadvantaged individuals. (Editor: Liao Yi-ting)